Missing! My Creativity....

Over the last 8 weeks or so I have had a total lack of desire to be creative...On top of being really busy with life in general, morning sickness has zapped any resolve to do anything apart from sleeping, being sick, rummaging in the cupboard for some kind of food to keep down and sleeping some more. I had no idea how tired I would be an how sick I would feel. I am hoping (with every finger and toe crossed) that it will pass soon and I might get my energy and creative mojo back.

At the moment, my life is filled with doctor's visits (really, how many times is normal in one week?), work and filling current orders (which thankfully, have kept my mind occupied and hands busy). Cooking dinner for hubs when he gets home from work has been a bit hit and miss - there has been way too many pizza and thai meals around here!

Today e had a baby scan that totally amazed me. After nearly a year at IVF and a few losses, I am still in awe that I am actually having a baby. I sit and watch the ultrasound screen and think...Whose baby is that? That can't be mine! Yet, as my stomach grows and I devour salt and vinegar chips by the kilo, it becomes more real. To all those couples out there that are till trying and going through what is one of the hardest times of your life...stay strong. I know how it feels and to be honest, in the middle of it, it SUCKS. I am not going to give you "it will be alright in the end" cause I hated that. Just keep strong. Your future babies are worth it.

Enough waffling on from me....even though I haven't done alot of new projects lately (I do hve a few I want to try when time allows) I did have one small project I didn't show you...

My nan is the queen of making receiving blankets for babies. (Receiving blankets?? What the?) Basically, a soft flannel blanket with a crochet edge that is divine for wrapping bub, laying on the floor for bub to lay on and any general "baby needs a blanket" time. I wanted to give one a go considering I always loved my nan's one...
Here is my first attempt (I now regret the colours I used, so not happy with it but hey, it's a first attempt!)

Before you say it, I know my toenails drastically need a re-paint. It's been done!

That's it for me today! Hope you are having a great week and getting some sun!

Ciao

Bella

xx

Little Princess

It has been a very busy and full weekend! We have had a 1st birthday party and a 40th wedding anniversary, not to mention all the normal weekend activities that normally happen! This weekend we celebrated my neice Macie's 1st birthday! I can't believe she is 1. It feels like just yesterday she arrived into our worlds. She is the most gorgeous little one and I couldn't resist making her a little something to go with her present....

It is the "Princess and the Pea"...

She wears a cute little dress with a heart shaped pocket..

Perfect size for a 1 year old to hold and play with...

I couldn't resist giving her orange plaits...

Here are her little mattresses...

And a little blanket to tuck her into bed...

Complete with "closed eyes" for her sleeping time...

All wrapped up and ready to go into the gift box!

Ready for the party!!!

She did come with a pattern to make the "peas" but I wasn't happy with the finished product, so I will have to fiddle around with it and add it when I am done!

That's it for me today....hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Ciao

Bella

xx

Winter Ritual...

Hi friends! We had the best week this week of the most beautiful sunny weather...you might have even thought spring had arrived early. Not to be outdone, winter has once again reared it's ugly face...probably for a few more weeks yet. I am dying for the warm weather to arrive so I can pack away the heater and enjoy being outside a little more! I am craving warm summer nights outside and it actually being light till at least 730pm!
While winter was still here, hubs and I went and enjoyed a bonfire with the fam...here are some picks...

It was really relaxing, fun and chilled out. The kids LOVED it! What could be better for a kid! We topped off the night with a BBQ and fireworks. 

I have no completed project to show you this week as I have about 3 in the works!!! Life has been pretty hectic this week, not to mention I was struck down with some weird virus during the week. I am nearly back to normal but craving an afternoon nanna nap....which means my lounge is calling...

Have a great week, Ill be back next week to show you my latest project...

Ciao

Bella

xx

Girl in Blue

I have been looking forward to doing this post for ages!!! I have been quietly (and rather slowly..) working away on this little cardi for a while, doing it in bits and peices and I finally finished it this week!! I made it from a pattern published by Patons ("Retro Babes" book 1306). After I had finished it I thought it would look extra cute with a headband so I added that as well (headband is my pattern). My niece Macie did the best job of modelling them for me. Here are the pics, they turned out extra cute (a big thanks to my sisters for helping me make Macie happy while we snapped the pics!)

Cardi is crocheted in merino wool and uses a 3mm hook. 

                         I decided to add some cute little feathers into the headband. They are so cute!

Trying to eat a leaf! 

The leaves were so fascinating! 

Beautiful girl!

Doesn't she look just lovely?? Nothing quite like handmade!

I have a trillion more pics but I'm gathering you get the gist! 

I have been working on some lovely crochet necklaces for women which I will try and get up during the week. I know you will love them!

It has been windy and cold here all day and I have caught a slight touch of the flu that is travelling around..I hope it decides to up and leave soon!

Have a good week and try to keep warm!

Ciao

Bella

xx

A Fun Type of Weekend...

Hellooooooo dear friends! It has been a whirlwind weekend full of birthday parties, lovely family time, afternoon siestas and food, food and more food!
To begin with, we celebrated my niece's 2nd birthday party. It was a lovely warm afternoon and we sat and basked in the sun and chatted, ate, watched the kids play and generally caught up with family. It was soooo good. You might remember that I made a Babushka for her birthday...it went down well!

Cuddles!!

I also decided to make her a little "dress up" necklace.. it was made in a hurry but I thought it was mega cute. I am writing a couple of patterns at the moment for both little and big girl crochet bead necklaces. They are going to be so nice!!

so easy to make..a braided wool cord, two cute little strawberries, and some round balls filled with toy stuffing and you are done! Add two sweet little ribbons for extra cute effect.

strawberry!

The necklace is so too big for her but thats what dress ups are for. I will try to get some up here next week that are the right size for little ones.

My sister's brother in law welcomed a new little one into the world this week so she asked me if I could whip up a special little hat. Here is what I came up with...

Considering the weather is getting really cold I added cute little ear flaps to keep little ears nice and warm..

Added a ruffled flower for fun..

Crochet cords finish it off to tie under a little chin..

I have been having fun playing around with my photos this afternoon, adding different effects and what not. I am thinking that I need to get photoshop so I can delve a little deeper! The website I used is: Photo Effects

It was also husband's 35th birthday today! We went out for a lovely dinner last night , breakfast this morning with family and we are about to have a roast dinner tonight. I think I need to not eat for the next week!

Hope you have a fab week and can find some time to be creative somewhere in your week..

Ciao

Bella

xxx

Babushka Love

Hi friends! This week has flown by awfully quick (probably all the shivering we have done with the recent cold snap!) I feel like I haven't been able to get warm all week unless I set up camp directly in front of the heater (thank goodness for gas heating so I don't have to worry too much about the cost!) We have had quite the lazy weekend this weekend, just catching up with odd jobs around the house, sleeping in, gardening and me catching up on some sewing and crochet projects that had fallen by the wayside.

My finished project to show this week is a birthday gift for my soon to be 2 year old niece Marlee (aka Moose).. here she is...

This is me and here when she was a little bubba...

and this is her at Christmas...

I wanted to make her something for her birthday rather than give her something so I decided to make her a Babushka doll...

Isn't she cute!!! I decided to make her more "handled" than round edges (easier for little hands to pick up and hold onto) I did her in a combination of reds and greens (although half way through the project I did stop and wonder if the colours were too "Christmasy" but I had already cut her out so I continued on)

I think her face is really sweet...

A scarf tied around the neck for a little "old granny" feel

Ta-dah! finished!

I hope she likes it! It is quite a big pattern so I do envisage it may be more decoration in her room than an everyday play thing but i also thought it would be good for little heads to use as a pillow...

In an effort to convince myself that the cold weather can be good...here is a picture of a beautiful winter scene I found. Pity it doesn't get that winter beautiful here....

image source

That's it for now...hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend wherever you are..

Ciao

Bella

xx

Mousy Wousy and Easter Fun....

It has been a while since I have posted...a combination of the computer throwing in the towel and going away for a little Easter mini-break means that I haven't been on the computer for a while. Computer has come home from the hospital and all is well!!
I haven't got any really amazing things created over the last few weeks, other than something really cute. (I do have some great stuff in the pipeline, but they are bigger projects, hence they are taking their sweet time!) I made these cute little mouse ears on a crochet headband for my niece Indianna. I decided to name them "Mousy Wousy"..Im a stickler for a good rhyme. I have a selection of animals ears...Beary Bear is completed and soon to come will be Kitty Cat, Piggy Wiggy, Monkey Play, Puppy Woof, Runny Bunny and Bambi Do. They are going to me mega cute. Either to be used for play time or accessories for photos, they are fun and easy. My neice and nephews loved them!

How cute!!!!! 

Side view. The ears are stuffed with toy stuffing, makes them sit up a bit better. The kids think I need to add a "squeezy" toy in the ears so it makes a noise whenever someone squeezes it...

A tied bubba but happy to pose for photos...

We also had a lovely time away with the family for the long 5 day weekend and I thought I might post a few pics...

The most lovely place....view from the top of Tomaree mountain

The family hits the dunes for some 4WDing

Posing near the shipwreck on Stockton Beach

Tin City...people who live on the sand dunes..crazy!!!

Home in the middle of nowhere...

Fun hanging out with beautiful nieces...

Playing with little ones in the sand..

Hooking into one of your easter eggs in the corner..

Getting caught!!

All in all an restful and fun time away.

Hope to be back sooner rather than later with some exciting projects to show!

Ciao

Bella

xx